About Stephanie

Stephanie is an Austin-based intimacy coach, surrogate partner, massage therapist, and professional cuddler, whose journey from an academic background in art history to a comprehensive focus on health, wellness, and the intricacies of human connection defines her unique approach to personal growth and client services.

After years as a massage therapist and a deep dive into nutrition, fitness, and evolutionary biology, Stephanie expanded her expertise to encompass the realms of relationships and sexuality, guided by her passion for teaching and her own explorations in feminine expression, ethical non-monogamy, sexual diversity, and the fundamentals of intimacy.

With an empathetic understanding of the challenges related to social interactions and self-expression, and armed with extensive skills in communication, emotional resilience, and boundary setting, Stephanie offers a hands-on, educational, and experiential approach that empowers clients to explore and develop their skills in real-life contexts.

Her work is a testament to the transformative power of touch and intimacy and the importance of authentic connection, making her a sought-after practitioner for those looking to deepen their understanding of themselves and their relationships and sexuality.

About Surrogate Partner Services

What is a Surrogate Partner?

A Surrogate Partner is someone engaged to support individuals in overcoming barriers to intimacy and sexual expression. This partnership focuses on practical learning and emotional growth through hands-on experiences, aiming to build confidence, familiarity, and a healthier relationship with one's own sexuality. The surrogate partner provides a safe and judgment-free space for exploring physical and emotional intimacy, practicing communication and consent, and addressing specific challenges such as past trauma or inexperience, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the individual's ability to form fulfilling personal relationships.

Who can benefit from working with a Surrogate Partner?

Some examples include:

Intimacy-Anxious Individuals: Those who feel anxious about intimacy, struggling with affection or closer connections, can greatly benefit from surrogate partners. Sessions provide a safe space to practice touch, eye contact, and understanding non-verbal cues, easing fears and building confidence.
Sexually Inexperienced Adults: Adults with minimal sexual experience can find surrogate partnership invaluable for overcoming fears, discovering their bodies, and learning to enjoy sexual pleasure, debunking any misconceptions they have about their abilities.
Individuals Re-entering the Dating World: For those returning to dating after significant time away, such as post-divorce, surrogate partner sessions act as a confidence booster, refreshing intimacy skills and preparing them for new relationships.
High-Achievers Neglecting Personal Pleasure: Individuals focused on success but ignoring personal joy can learn to value and incorporate pleasure into their lives through surrogate partnerships, exploring safe ways to embrace enjoyment and satisfaction.
Trauma-Affected Individuals Seeking Healing: Those impacted by sexual trauma benefit from the gentle reintroduction to intimacy that surrogate partners provide, fostering a safe environment for healing, trust-building, and learning effective communication of needs and boundaries.
Anyone With a Growth Mindset: Believe it or not, sexual confidence and prowess do not come naturally to anyone -- we all have to learn! A great teacher once said, "You don't save yourself for 'the one'; you practice for 'the one'!"

There are many additional reasons to consider working with a surrogate partner. Feel free to reach out at IntimacyGuidance@pm.me with questions, or set up a Meet & Greet call to discuss your needs!

Is Surrogate Partner work legal?

There are generally no laws prohibiting Surrogate Partner work or regulating it as a profession. There is one organization (IPSA) which provides certification to Surrogate Partner Therapists who wish to demonstrate specific training and adherence to specific treatment models and ethical guidelines.

Unlike in prostitution, Surrogate Partners do not agree to specific sexual acts for the entertainment or gratification of their clients. Rather, Surrogate Partners open doors of possibility for growth and exploration in a safe container based on mutual comfort and consent, the goals of which are education and healing, and the activities of which can vary moment to moment and often cannot be predicted in advance.

What are the boundaries in Surrogacy work?

The boundaries in a Surrogacy session can potentially be open to anything you would naturally explore with a romantic partner. However, the agreements we make are not about specific activities; rather, we agree to create a safe space in which exploration is possible based on our mutual comfort at any given time. This depends on clear communication (verbal as well as non-verbal), safety, and trust. This is also one of the reasons I always begin with an Icebreaker session with new clients, so that we can create some of that trust before we move into more advanced work.

How do you handle sexual health?

Good sexual health practices are an extremely important responsibility for all sexually active individuals, and we all should model this in our lives. In addition to using protection whenever appropriate, I maintain a regular testing schedule and encourage clients to do the same. Even if there are no concerns, it's always a good idea to obtain data points that can be referenced if questions ever arise.

To do this, you can go to your doctor, or a clinic such as Kind or RBJ if you are in the Austin area. For the most expedited results, discreet, out-of-pocket testing can be obtained with a 24- to 48-hour turnaround from any convenient lab to you through STDCheck.com.